Proven Leadership for BC’s Economy www.bcliberals.com Index Premier’s Message 1 Six Pillars for a Strong BC 2 Our Open Platform process 3 Strong leadership and stable government 4 Living within our means 5 Lowering costs on our economy 10 Improving and protecting vital public services 16 Investing in jobs and infrastructure 32 Building on our strategic advantages 37 Authorized by Jim Pipe, Financial Agent BC Liberal Party. Tel: 604.606.6000, 1.800.567.2257 www.bcliberals.com Premier’s Message This is the most critical election in living memory. Now more than ever, we need stability. Building on our strength On May 12th, British Columbians will decide who they want to represent them in the Legislature and as government. It’s a crucial election that will determine who will manage our economy and lead BC through these turbulent economic times. Although we’re not immune from the global recession, we are in much better shape than most other places. We’ve built a strong foundation and we will get a major boost when we host the Olympics and by our new stature as one of Canada’s leading economies. That confidence is built on stability and a record of performance. The Conference Board of Canada predicts that British Columbia will lead the nation in economic growth next year if British Columbians continue to have confidence in one another, in our wealth of human talent and in all that our province has to offer. Together we will continue to open Canada’s Pacific Gateway and to attract The key new investment and jobs to every region of our province. We can forge a new relationship with First Nations, lead the way on climate action, and to a strong create new opportunities for growth in clean energy, forestry, mining, small economy business, tourism, technology and every sector of our economy. is confidence, A strong economy allows us to increase funding for crucial public services leadership like healthcare, education, social housing and public safety. We maintain and vision. our economic strength by living within our means and maintaining low taxes, and prudently managing taxpayers’ money. That’s what our plan and We’ve made real progress over the last eight years, but there is more work to be done. I invite you to review our Platform and our record at this election www.bcliberals.com. On May 12th, we need to re-elect a proven team is all about. to keep BC strong. I need your help. Premier Gordon Campbell 1 Authorized by Jim Pipe, Financial Agent BC Liberal Party. Tel: 604.606.6000, 1.800.567.2257 www.bcliberals.com Six Pillars for a Strong BC Strong leadership and 1 stable government 2 Living within our means 3 Lowering costs on our economy Improving and protecting vital 4 public services 5 Investing in jobs and infrastructure 6 Building on our strategic advantages In 2005, we adopted Five Great Nations, the federal government and Confidence and stability are critical Goals for the next decade and other governments. And we were to our economic strength and beyond. We aspired to be the determined to tackle the challenges prosperity. This Platform outlines best in health, education, support of global warming, homelessness, Six Pillars for a Strong BC that services, environmental stewardship and the inequities that have will continue to build confidence, and job creation. We sought to disadvantaged Aboriginal people. that will attract new investment, build new partnerships with First create new jobs and generate the Those goals continue to guide our opportunities and revenue we need government and we are making to achieve our great goals. progress, as you can see at www.gov.bc.ca. Dozens of specific Our Platform builds on the strong strategies are readily available at foundation we have created www.gov.bc.ca/govt/government_ together to help our province realize plans_and_strategies.html. its full potential and make the most As we reach towards that vision, of its advantages, for our families the strength of our economy and and our communities. Our goals our ability to fund those priorities are clear and our way forward is all comes down to one word: working. This Platform highlights our CONFIDENCE. plan for new progress. 2 Authorized by Jim Pipe, Financial Agent BC Liberal Party. Tel: 604.606.6000, 1.800.567.2257 www.bcliberals.com Our Open Platform Share your ideas. Make your process voice heard. Help us build upon BC’s strengths Elections are a time for parties to lay out their plan for the future of the province. But plans are created by people sharing their ideas and being clear about their Since launching Open Platform, we’ve had over priorities for their province. Last fall, we launched 1,500 submissions from the public. We’ve heard Open Platform to give all British Columbians a new from thousands of British Columbians in communities forum to share their views on the issues facing our across the province. Our “digital bus” has visited cities, province, their input on the progress we are making universities and colleges across BC. We are engaging together and the path they would choose to the future. young adults who are more informed and connected than any generation in history because this is their future we are talking about. We’ve received lots of positive suggestions. Many are reflected in this booklet and in the policies initiated by government. British Columbians are confident about their future and they are ready to lead in tackling the issues of our times. They are concerned about their jobs and financial security in the face of the global recession, but they know there is no place on Earth that Open Platform is your chance to help shape our policies offers more promise for them than British Columbia. during and beyond this election; and it’s just one part of our ongoing dialogue with British Columbians and our Most citizens understand there is a limit to what we can evolving action plan to address your priorities and help afford to fund with their tax dollars. They don’t want to keep BC strong. see their money wasted and they don’t want any party to try to buy their votes with expensive, unaffordable election promises. This Platform is a responsible program for steady progress and prudent management of your tax dollars. 3 Authorized by Jim Pipe, Financial Agent BC Liberal Party. Tel: 604.606.6000, 1.800.567.2257 www.bcliberals.com Six Pillars for a Strong BC Strong leadership and 1 stable government Confidence in our economy starts hard-earned capital to create or with the knowledge that government expand any business, you need to will work with the private sector – know that your government will be Our economy is precious, not against it – to encourage there as an ally, to help maximize but fragile. This is not the investment and create new jobs. your opportunities for growth. That time for risky experiments This election, voters will decide who creates confidence for consumers, or on-the-job training. will provide the strongest leadership for investors, and for BC families. for our economy and build on the More importantly, it creates jobs. Now more than ever, we confidence we’ve created in BC need a steady hand at the over the past eight years. Uncertainty and instability top. We need to re-elect have the opposite effect. They You need to know that when you undermine confidence, drive Premier Campbell’s BC work hard, you can get ahead. away investment and put people Liberal Government. Businesses need to know they will out of work. be able to successfully compete on a level playing field that welcomes During these turbulent economic times, our economy can ill investment and rewards risk-taking. inexperienced NDP government. afford higher taxes, higher costs If you’re thinking of risking your The Opposition’s reckless and and more uncertainty under an irresponsible policies and promises will kill confidence and will put our province in an even weaker position than it was in the 1990’s. This election is critical to In today’s circumstances, our our economy and to the economy needs an experienced future of our province. team with practical solutions that work. That’s what our team and our plan is all about. 4 Authorized by Jim Pipe, Financial Agent BC Liberal Party. Tel: 604.606.6000, 1.800.567.2257 www.bcliberals.com Six Pillars for a Strong BC 2 Living within our means Families know that when finances severe than any of the experts get tight, it gets tougher to pay the Responsibly projected. We have to be bills. The last thing they want to do managing your conservative in our forecasts, in is rack up new debt on the credit case revenues fall more quickly, or card for luxury items that they really tax dollars for a longer period, than anticipated. can’t afford. They have to carefully It’s a complex job putting together manage their budgets and only pay a three-year budget that balances for what they need, so that they can $41 billion worth of revenue and continue to make ends meet today expenditures, backed up by a and in the future. detailed business plan for every ministry. But our record shows that we have the competent team and credible plan to get it right. That’s why BC has the best credit rating in the country. British Columbians have worked too hard to get their government’s fiscal house in order to see that Annual BC real GDP growth forecast, % squandered by reckless spending 4.5 and runaway deficits.